'A Mighty Presence in Miniature': Unveiling the Unknown Facts about Sparrowhawks
In the world of birds of prey, the sparrowhawk stands out as a master of surprise and agility. Next year, readers will delve deeper into the fascinating world of these raptors with Mark Cocker's upcoming book, 'The Nature of Seeing', published by Jonathan Cape.
Once upon a time, the kestrel and the sparrowhawk were the only other birds of prey to enrich a day out in the country. But today, our guild of raptors is wider and deeper, including buzzards, red kites, ospreys, goshawks, and marsh harriers.
The sparrowhawk's hunting strategy is based on surprise attack and agility. They use cover such as hedges, tree belts, and gardens to approach their prey unseen. Hidden and waiting, they break cover flying fast and low, sometimes chasing prey through dense vegetation and even pursuing it on foot. Their wings and tail are adapted for flying quickly in confined spaces and making tight turns to catch prey.
The preferred prey of the sparrowhawk are smaller woodland birds and songbirds, such as tits, finches, robins, blackbirds, and other small garden birds. They take advantage of bird feeders where these birds congregate, often causing a hullabaloo among local songbirds. The females tend to take larger prey to increase survival chances, especially in winter forests.
Interestingly, the male sparrowhawk is our smallest bird of prey, weighing approximately 4oz (113 grams). In contrast, the female sparrowhawk is on average 75% heavier than her male counterpart. Sparrowhawks are known to use houses as lookouts or to blindside their prey in city centers.
The ongoing abundance of sparrowhawks is proof that this master of shock tactics is more than holding its own. However, their numbers may have adjusted due to inter-family competition. The presence of trees, especially conifers, is a pre-requisite for sparrowhawk nest sites.
Mark Cocker, a naturalist and multi-award-winning author of creative non-fiction, has already graced us with his work, with his book 'One Midsummer's Day: Swifts and the Story of Life on Earth' previously published on the platform. His latest book, 'The Nature of Seeing', is set to be released next year.
For more information on Mark Cocker and his work, consider subscribing to our Newsletter.
[1] https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/sparrowhawk/ [2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/birds/sparrowhawk [3] https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-with-children/wildlife/birds/sparrowhawk/ [4] https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/birds/sparrowhawk/habitat [5] https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/sparrowhawk/food-and-feeding/ [6] https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/birds/sparrowhawk/behaviour/
This feature originally appeared in the July 23, 2025, issue of the platform.
In Mark Cocker's upcoming book, 'The Nature of Seeing', readers can expect to delve deeper into the world of birds, not only raptors like sparrowhawks, but also other health-and-wellness enthusiasts such as kestrels, buzzards, red kites, ospreys, goshawks, and marsh harriers. As a domain expert in the field of science, Cocker's insights can contribute positively to our understanding of fitness-and-exercise regimens employed by birds of prey, providing us with a holistic approach to wildlife study and health.
